Andrew Scheer is resigning as Conservative Leader

Andrew Scheer is stepping down as a Conservative leader.

The decision comes less than two months after a disappointing election result and after weeks of Conservative infighting about whether he should have a future as the head of the party.

Several prominent Conservatives have called outright for his resignation, or for him to re-apply for his job in a new leadership contest. Having not won power in October, he faced a mandatory leadership review in April.

The Conservatives held the Liberals to a minority government in October but many in the party had hoped for a better result.

Scheer was emotional in his seven-minute speech to the House of Commons, calling it one of the most difficult decisions he has ever made.

“This was not a decision that I came to lightly. This was a decision I came to after many long, hard conversations with friends, family over the past two months since the election campaign.”

Scheer was elected as the Tory leader in May 2017, barely besting Maxime Bernier in the contest after numerous rounds of voting.

Scheer called his time as leader an “opportunity and challenge of a lifetime” but it was now time to put his family first.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saluted Scheer’s wife and family for the sacrifices they made to have him take on the leadership role of the Conservative party.

“I know from the many conversations I’ve had over the years with the honourable leader that he sees very much the way I and so many others, see our the responsibilities as parents,” said Trudeau. “That we are politicians, that we are in this house, not in spite of having kids but because we have kids and are dedicated to building a better world for them with everything we have. I respect that deeply of him and to thank him for that focus on a better future for his kids.”

Scheer said he has asked the Conservative national council to begin a leadership contest and that he intends to stay on as leader of the party and official opposition “as our party embarks on this exciting opportunity, electing a new Conservative leader and Canada’s next Prime Minister.”